Southport is one of the most beautiful and charming small towns in North Carolina.  During warm weather, visitors flock to Southport’s picturesque tree-lined streets to explore its many restaurants, shops, marina, yacht basin and historic attractions.

Hundreds of years ago, pirates and explorers visited the area.  Today, it’s convenient location, where the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, and Cape Fear River meet, is still very popular with mariners.

Ginger Harper with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has been a Southport resident for 27 years and shares some of her favorite things to do there.  Photos courtesy of Jim Harper.

For more information, please visit www.seacoastrealty.com or become our fan on Facebook.

St. James, North Carolina is a small town located just outside of Southport, North Carolina.  Incorporated in 1999, the majority of the Town of St. James is located within the gated community of St. James Plantation.  It features a full service marina, four premiere golf courses, tennis, beach activities, a private beach club, biking trails, walking paths and more.

St. James resident and Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty associate Ken Keegan shares his St. James expertise.

For more information, please visit www.seacoastrealty.com or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/seacoastrealty.

Thinking of relocating, but you just aren’t sure? Why not take a “test drive”?

Pat Maloney with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty suggests three great ways that you can get a feel for areas like the NC coast before you make a commitment.

Why not rent a beach cottage during the off-season to get a feel for the area? Pat says it’s a great option, especially if you’re already retired.

If you aren’t retired, but want to test the waters, Pat suggests buying a “little something”, a small home that you’ll use for weekend getaways and family vacations. Then when you do retire, you can decide if moving to the coast is what you have in mind.

For those that are more daring, but still not ready to buy, Pat suggests moving somewhere and renting a home for no longer than 6 months.

With all the natural beauty and friendly folks on the Cape Fear Coast, you’ll be surprised how quickly you feel at home.

For more information, please visit www.seacoastrealty.com or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/seacoastrealty.

Normally, the winter months are a pretty slow time in the real estate business.  While the weather has been cold outside this year, the real estate market has been getting hotter and hotter. 

In January 2009, homebuyers toured Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty listings 2,757 times!  That’s a whopping 72% increase from the previous month.  The number of showings is expected to grow even more over the next few months.

Our real estate professionals say that there are lots of homebuyers hunting for homes earlier than usual this year, so that they can take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit before the April 30, 2010 deadline.  First-time homebuyers are eligible for an $8,000 tax credit.  Homeowners that have been in their current home for the last 5 years are also eligible for a $6,500 tax credit.  In addition, real estate agents say that there are lots of investors and folks looking for second homes out looking for great properties at a bargain price.

If you are considering selling your home, it’s smart to contact a Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty agent today.  Our real estate professionals in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Onslow counties will expertly market your home, so that it will get the attention it deserves and sell for the most money.

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has been southeastern North Carolina’s top home seller for the last 10 years!  Find out more at www.seacoastrealty.com.

The city of Boiling Spring Lakes takes its name from the array of 50 lakes and a natural boiling spring there.  Sharon “Zak” lives along the 10 mile shoreline of the “Big Lake,” where she enjoys the natural beauty and friendly faces.

For more information, please visit www.seacoastrealty.com or find us on Facebook.

Sixteen associates and staff from Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty’s Leland, N.C. office recently took time out from selling homes to build one. The real estate professionals joined other volunteers in painting a home for Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity Saturday, January 23, 2010.

Howard Bailey, Julie Bass, Scott Bowser, Bruce Brown, Linda Cline, Peter David, Kari Essig, Brenda Freckleton, Doug Jackson, Linda Killian, Denise Kinney, Peggy McKay, Leslie Morgan, Karen Schwartz, Regina White, and Ophard Willis spent the day painting the primer coat on a new Habitat home in Navassa. They were joined by the homeowner, her family, Lam Nguyen from Alpha Mortgage, their friends and families, and other Habitat for Humanity volunteers.

“Throughout the day, we shared laughs and splattered paint marks on our faces,” said Denise Kinney, managing broker of Sea Coast Realty’s Leland office. “Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity was an amazing experience. I was so proud to see the Leland office supporting our community by lending a helping hand. We have a great team.” Since 1997, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has been involved in the construction of several homes for Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity.

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty associates, staff, and their families pitched in to help volunteers build a Navassa home for Habitat for Humanity January 23, 2010.

“Raising walls, Raising spirits” for Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity are (left to right): FRONT: Julie Bass, Linda Cline, homeowner Carrie, & volunteer Lindsay Bass. BACK: volunteer Stephanie, Peter David, Lam Nguyen of Alpha Mortgage, Peggy McKay, Leslie Morgan, Howard Bailey, volunteer Corey, Bruce Brown, Doug Jackson, volunteer coordinator Julie Hale. Not pictured are: Scott Bowser, Kari Essig, Brenda Freckleton, Linda Killian, Denise Kinney, volunteer Trace McKay, Karen Schwartz, Regina White, volunteer Eddy Wilkinson, and Ophard Willis.

Over the last 40 years, Bruce Brown has been a teacher, counselor, freelance writer, real estate professional, business coach and small business owner. 

At Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty’s Leland, NC office, Brown puts his talents and experience to work helping home buyers and sellers.  He is also vice-president of the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce and frequently attends networking events to promote and support other local businesses.  His enthusiasm and willingness to share his wisdom energize the business community and Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty.

Brown is also the owner of his own business coaching company.  He shares his passion in “31 Days to Networking Event Mastery,” a book he’s written with a month’s worth of daily tips for making the most of networking events.  He will share networking tips and plan for business success Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 at the Brunswick County Association of Realtors, located at 101 Stone Chimney Place in Supply, NC. 

Sixteen Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty sales associates recently attended one of the preeminent new home sales training programs in the nation.

New Home Communities Director Ted Hardeen, Justin Ash, Pete Barber, Greg Beck, Rand Burchfield, Rob Dooley, Brad Hunter, Greg Kirby, Roger Mitchell, Steve Mitchell, Courtney Pridgen, Bob Ramsey, Lori Smith, Renee Spencer, Karen Stant, and Emily Willetts attended “New Home Sales Boot Camp® 2009” hosted by Bob Schultz & the New Home Sales Specialists in Delray Beach, Florida, October 20-22, 2009.

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty leads the area in new home sales by selling three times as many homes as its nearest competitor. Associate training programs, like Schultz’s “Boot Camp,” have been a major factor in Sea Coast’s success.

“New Home Sales Boot Camp® 2009” trainees from Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty were (left to right): Roger Mitchell; Justin Ash; Courtney Pridgen; Greg Beck; Peggy Burkett, Executive Vice President of Bob Schultz & the New Home Sales Specialists; Rand Burchfield; Bob Schultz, President and CEO of Bob Schultz & the New Home Sales Specialists; Steve Mitchell; Emily Willetts; Pete Barber; Roland Nairnsey, Senior Vice President of Training & Development of Bob Schultz & the New Home Sales Specialists; Ted Hardeen; Karen Stant; Brad Hunter; Greg Kirby; and Renee Spencer. Not pictured: Lori Smith, Rob Dooley, & Bob Ramsey.

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty agents were on hand at this weekend’s first annual Cape Fear Italian Festival in Leland.  The festival organized by the Italian Heritage Society of Wilmington featured live entertainment, games, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, booths, and lots of terrific food.

Agents Tom Schoaf and Don Scrime manned a booth for Harbor Bay, a new home community in Holden Beach, NC.  Agents Karen Stant and Ashley Pagliughi joined Mark Whitmarsh at a booth representing the Brunswick County new home communities of Lennon Hills and Lanvale Forest.